Teaching Evolution is Not Optional

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In this video I team up with Keith Hughes to explain why teaching evolution is not optional for high school biology teachers.  I start by describing the alarming results of a survey of high biology teachers across the country, the laws governing the teaching of evolution in public schools, and the importance of evolution in proper biology instruction.  Keith Hughes gives a historical background of the issue including a discussion of the famous Scopes trial.  I end the video by imploring biology teachers to grow the 28%
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Reflections on Digital Aristotle

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In my most recent video I reflect on C.G.P. Grey's video Digital Aristotle: Thoughts on the Future of Education.  The video is an excellent look at technology in education and is thoroughly engaging.  However there were two parts of the video that were troubling to me.  Mr. Grey believes that schools in the future will contain far less teachers doing far less.  I believe that technology is a powerful tool that will make teachers more important in the future.  The educational success of countries like Finland is not built on technology but on excellent teachers.  I also address the concept of videos as teachers.  I feel that wonderful educational videos are like wonderful books.  They can be used by teachers to improve learning but they are not teachers.  Parking students in front of videos and calling it teaching is no different than sending them to the library with a pass.
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The Five Fingers of Evolution

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I recorded the following lesson on microevolution when I was at the TED Active conference in February.  Alan Foreman did a wonderful job on the animation.  It is part of the TED-ED initiative which is linking educators with animators to produce educational content.  The TED-Ed website also allows learners to interact with the videos through questions and further activities.  I felt honored to work with such a passionate group of individuals.
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I'm Teaching a Class this Summer

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I'm teaching a 2-credit graduate course at Montana State University this summer.  It is part of the Masters of Science in Science Education program.  I have set up my own Moodle server and I am going to be running it like my high school classroom.  Technologies include, but are not limited to, the following: Moodle, screencasting software, iPads, Livescribe pens, graphics tablets, Google docs, Smartboards, data probes, and video.  If you (or a teachers you know) might be interested in spending a week in beautiful Bozeman learning everything I know about education technology please sign up. 

You can read more about the class by clicking here.